Isle of Man TT Races: Moto2 Historic Debut

FTR MOTO will provide the first Moto2 machine to race in the world famous Isle of Man TT Races when promising 22-year-old Olie Linsdell races the FTR M210 in the six-lap Senior TT around the 37.73-mile Mountain course on Friday June 11.

Practice for the 226-mile race takes place this week and Linsdell is expected to take to the TT course with the sweet-sounding M210 for the first time in this evening’s session, from 6.20pm.

FTR’s TT debut complements an already extensive and growing range of racing and trackday activities with its Moto2 racing machinery. Alex Debon, Gabor Talmasci, Andrea Iannone and Karel Abraham are all using FTR’s machinery in the new World Moto2 Championship.

In Spain, Kev Coghlan is one point off the lead of the National Championship series thanks to victory last time out at Albacete while Russian newcomer Alexey Ivanov continues to progress well in Spain – the 18-year-old enjoying his first season of competition outside his homeland.

Following the introduction of Moto2 as a World Championship class from 2010 the popularity of the thoroughbred racing machines, fitted with 600cc Honda motors, has extended to trackday customers with FTR also under way with a limited edition Ron Haslam-Elf replica machine.

Linsdell’s Isle of Man FTR Moto2 machine features the latest chassis technology from the Grand Prix activities of the company and houses a CBR600RR Honda motor prepared by the Joe Darcey Team in Spain, winners of last year’s Spanish Supersport Championship with Coghlan. The engine is built to World Supersport specification.

"To contest the TT is an exciting new adventure for FTR," says FTR’s Steve Bones. "We’ve brought over technical expertise from our Spanish programme to assist Olie and there’s a real sense of anticipation within FTR and from all of our partners.

"The TT is steeped in more than 100 years of history and the possibility of being able to field a modern, current World Championship machine in the event is a pleasure for us and we hope it will be enjoyed by everyone who witnesses the race and the machine. Just like the original time and reliability ethics behind the TT, we’re hoping for a finish and something to build on for the future."

Back here in the states, FTR Moto has appointed American racing accessories specialist GP Tech llc as its distributor for the USA as FTR’s World Championship Moto2 projects continue to expand.

GP Tech, of Richland, Michigan, has more than 20 years experience in motorcycle racing and will market the FTR Moto brand with specific attention on the ever-expanding Moto2 machine market.

"We’ve done business with Geoff Maloney at GP Tech for a number of years so it was a natural move to increase our relationship," said FTR director Steve Bones. "

With our own expansion into the Moto2 World Championship from 2010 it’s important that we are able to offer an efficient service and make the most of our variety of business partners worldwide."

GP Tech will increase its own interests in the FTR M210 Moto2 GP machine and is already planning to use the involvement with FTR to offer wild card opportunities for American riders, starting with the Indianapolis Grand Prix in August.

"At GP Tech we’ve always had a good relationship with the FTR guys and their products have certainly proven popular this side of the Atlantic," said GP Tech director Geoff Maloney. "With the introduction of Moto2 I’m personally pleased to be working with one of, if not the best machine out there."

FTR’s M210 will also be campaigned in the 2010 MotoGP World Championship by Alex Debon, Gabor Talmasci and Andrea Iannone. FTR has also produced the popular Elf-Ron Haslam Moto2 track day replica and will also contest the 2010 CEV Spanish Moto2 Championship with its partner teams.